April 28, 2009 - News Leader

COMMUNITY
GARDEN PREPARES FOR CROPStudents
are excited about seeds, planting and growing vegetables. Princeton’s first
community garden, a project of John Allison Elementary School, is under
construction. The ground has been levelled, and soon the deer fence will be
constructed. School trustees heard an update on the project from Sharon
Anderson and Sonya Gronen, two parents actively involved in the group planning
the garden. They have been working hard to inspire teachers, students and
members of the community to be part of the project. They created a short DVD,
very well done, to inspire others. Glow Lemon, a knowledgeable gardener, is
giving workshops on vegetable gardening. Teacher Shirley Low, a leader in the
project, has been successful in obtaining grants to assist in the cost, but the
budget for fencing is eating up a lot of the money as the Board of Education
specified chain link fencing. Anderson told the Board it is costing three times
as much as standard deer fencing would have cost. While waiting for a real
garden plot, youngsters have been planting seeds in pots, learning to make
compost, and have started a worm farm. Students at Princeton Secondary are
building a tool shed,
and there are some hand tools purchased. Every classroom has a 4 X 16 foot bed
to plant and nurture. Additional beds are available for the community, but all
have been assigned and there is a waiting list in case somebody drops out. With
only a few weeks left for spring planting, there is still a lot of work to be
done.

COUNCIL
ADOPTS PRIORITY STRATEGYTown
Council has taken a step toward more efficient planning and budgeting. A set of
priority guidelines and priorities chart will be created for next year’s budget
work. Members of Town Council have attended training sessions during the past
two months on how to set priorities and work with the guidelines. The
guidelines include a timetable. Current priorities are listed under headings of
Council’s areas of responsibility, such as public works, administration, and so
on. Council has a long list of things to do, and as one item on the priority
list is achieved, another item can move onto the list. Councillor Marilyn
Harkness likened it to her personal “to do” list. Priorities and progress will
be reviewed at intervals throughout the year.

April 21, 2009 - News Leader

COURT
CONVICTS FORMER RESIDENTFormer
Princeton resident, 39-year old Raymond Allan Nendick, was convicted in Supreme
Court in Penticton
on April 16th from charges stemming from a search warrant executed by Princeton
RCMP in December of 2005. The court heard how the search warrant was the
culmination of a lengthy investigation and surveillance by the local
detachment. During the early morning hours of December 10, 2005, police
executed a search warrant on Nendick’s residence on Haliford Avenue seizing a
quantity of powder and crack cocaine. Evidence of drug trafficking such as
weigh scales with cocaine residue, plastic baggies, scoresheets and currency
were also seized from inside the residence. The court heard how at the time of
the warrant, Nendick was arrested and prevented from attempting to flush
cocaine down his toilet. At trial, the search warrant obtained by police was
challenged by defense counsel but was ruled lawful by the presiding judge.
Although answering to charges of possession of cocaine for the purpose of
trafficking, the presiding judge found Nendick guilty of the lesser included
charge of simple possession. Nendick was fined $1,000.00 and sentenced to one
day in jail, with time already served.

CHAMBER
ELECTS NEW EXECUTIVEThe
Princeton and District Chamber of Commerce welcomed their new Board at their
AGM on April 9th. President Olsen thanked the outgoing and the new Directors
for their commitment and their time. With a new Board in place they will divide
the Chamber operation into portfolios and each new Director will be assigned a
portfolio suitable to their interests, experience and talents. John Singleton
has been contacted to facilitate a strategic plan that will build the Chamber
into a viable organization that will fulfill the needs of Princeton’s business
community and attract new businesses. Councillor Armitage said he was pleased
with the new Board and the new portfolio approach. He sees the new Board as a
mature Board who bring great backgrounds and benefits to the Chamber and looks
forward to working closely with them. The Chamber is looking forward to
involvement with all of the business in the Community. If you are interested in
being part of one of their Committees drop in and see them or join them at one of
their meetings at 5:30 PM on the last Thursday of the month.

April 14, 2009 - News Leader

COUNCIL
KEEPS PUSHING HAZARDThe topic
of the safety of pedestrians attempting to cross Highway 3 from Vermilion
Avenue to BurtonAvenue was
raised by Town Council once more at the April 6 Council meeting. The
Accessibility Awareness Committee had written a letter to Gerry Wells, Area
Manager of Roads for the local highways district, complaining about the lights
above the highway. The existing lights are too pale, and do not flash rapidly.
Mayor Randy McLean and other Council members spoke of instances when a person
was crossing the highway, but vehicles were not stopping. At times, the lights
are very hard to see. The Accessibility Committee stated, “Amber lights signal
a motorist to use caution, we want motorists to stop.” The committee wants a
red light. The other problem with the pushbutton stop device on the post at the
side of the highway is that it is too high for a person in wheelchair to reach,
and in winter, the button is beyond the reach of most people because of snow
piled up at the curb. Mayor McLean said Council will continue its campaign to
have safety increased at the intersection.

FORMER
RESIDENT CHARGED WITH MURDEROn April
8th, RCMP arrested a 41-year old male in Merritt and a 45-year old male in
Princeton. Both men were interviewed by police in connection with the murder of
Willard Bruce McInroy in Princeton in December of 2008. As a result of the
continued investigation, charges of 2nd degree murder have now been laid
against 41-year old William Harvey Green of Merritt in relation to McInroy’s
death. Green was a resident of Princeton at the time of the homicide but has
since moved to Merritt. Green appeared in Penticton court last week. The second
male was released without charge on April 8th and investigators do not
anticipate further charges in this investigation. This investigation involved
resources from various RCMP investigative Units from across the Province.

April 07, 2009 - News Leader

$50,000+
DAMAGE TO PRINCETON ARENA
Princeton Volunteer Fire
Department crews started the week off with three calls in a matter of hours.
The first fire was at a tree located near the Weyerhaeuser ‘Roundhouse’ on the
Trans-Canada Trail. RCMP say the fire was deliberately set. Then shortly after
midnight Monday, April 6th the fire department responded to a call of a grass
fire on the hill to the south of The Bridge/Riverside Centre. The most serious
fire later the same morning occurred at the Princeton & District
Multi-Purpose Arena. Princeton RCMP Sgt. M. Savage reports, “Unknown culprits
set fire to the recreational trailer to the east of the Princeton Arena. The
fire consumed the trailer and caused damage to the Princeton Arena estimated to
exceed $50-thousand.” The ‘trailer’ described by RCMP is in reality the
Princeton Posse dressing room, coaching staff office, equipment room, storage
and the hallway connecting the structure to the Arena building. Both Princeton
Fire Department and the RCMP are investigating the incidents. If you have any
information contact Princeton
RCMP at (250) 295-6911.

THOMSON
RECEIVES AWARDOn
Tuesday, March 24th, ProMOTION Plus honoured Sherri Thomson and Amber Zirnhelt,
this year’s Bobbie Steen Award of Excellence recipients at the annual ceremony,
held in conjunction with Sport BC President’s Awards at the River Rock Casino
in Richmond, BC. Congratulations to everyone who was nominated for the
phenomenal work that you do for women and girls in sport. The Career
Achievement Award recognizes outstanding role models who have, over the course
of their career championed women in sport and physical activity. 2009 CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD: SHERRI THOMSON Sherri was drawn to the grace and power of horses early
in her life. Over the course of her extensive career as an athlete, coach and
trainer, Sherri has become a magnet for young female riders and loves to share
her knowledge and passion for the sport of Reining with these young
competitors. Sherri’s phenomenal work ethic makes her an amazing role model who
has had a profound impact on the lives of her young protégés. This is evidenced
by the love and dedication of her students to Reining, and by the fact that
they spend most of their free time working with Sherri and the horses. The Bobbie Steen Awards of Excellence
are presented annually by the following partners: BC Games Society, BC Sport
and Recreation Branch, Sport BC and ProMOTION Plus. The Bobbie Steen Awards of
Excellence were created to recognize outstanding individuals or organizations
who demonstrate exemplary leadership in sport and recreation, promoting access
and opportunity for girls and women in the province of British Columbia. The
next nomination deadline will be February 2010.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE YEARS!​Similkameen News Leader 1998 - 2016